Rochdale Town Hall Restoration & Revival Public Consultation Getting your views Rochdale Town Hall is our greatest historic and cultural asset but it needs work to restore and adapt it so that it can be preserved for future generations. We also want to make even more use of this stunning building so that more people can enjoy it in the future. That’s why we are working with the Friends of Rochdale Town Hall (FoRTH) and Rochdale Development Agency to develop a Heritage Lottery Fund bid. The Grade I Listed building is already used for events like weddings, concerts, tours and tea dances but now that council staff have moved to Number One Riverside we have an opportunity to further develop this building as a community facility and visitor attraction. We all have a stake in this public building so it is important that you have your say. That’s why we are inviting you to take a look at our plans and let us know what you think. Your views will help us refine Our vision the plans ready for our first stage bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund As one of the best examples of Victorian gothic later this year. architecture in the country, Rochdale Town Hall is a building of huge historical significance. The building, which first opened to the public in 1871, also contains important pieces of art, including the Magna Carta mural painted by Henry Holiday, which is in the Great Hall. As a council we take our role as the guardians of the Town Hall very seriously. By embarking on this long- term restoration and redevelopment project, we can safeguard this important building for future generations. We want to make better use of its fascinating rooms, some of which were converted to office space from the 1950s to support the growing council at the time. This work is an important part of the ongoing £250m regeneration of Rochdale town centre, which also includes the river reopening scheme and the planned leisure and retail development, Town Centre East. rochdale.gov.uk/townhall How did we get here? - Timeline of then and now Rochdale Town Hall Proposed Floor Plans 1856 Rochdale is incorporated as a Borough, with an estimated population of 34,545 people. KEY 1859 The Council decides to build a Town Hall to serve as its administrative base. Spaces to be restored and remain in public use 1864 Leeds architect, William H. Crossland, wins the competition to design the Town Hall Spaces to be restored and opened to public access and site clearance begins. The build costs £160,000 - far more than the original Third Floor Second Floor budget of £20,000, funded from the profits of the town’s gas company. Spaces to support new users (staff only) First Floor Mezzanine G-Level GroundFloor Basement Floor 1872 The Town Hall opens. The building is used largely for councillors and council officers, Proposed new lift with the public only able to access the rates hall (now the bistro) to pay their Proposed fire escape William H. Crossland Proposed suite taxes. Although the Town Hall is very much a public building today, as part of our of rooms (ex Police lodgings) redevelopment, we would like to make it even more accessible and welcoming to members of the public. Roof level (No public access) 1883 A serious fire damages the original clock tower. The replacement clock tower designed by Alfred Waterhouse (the architect for Manchester Town Hall) is Existing mezzanine office Roof level Third Floor (No public access) 3 level removed to restore former 15 metres (49 feet) shorter than its predecessor. The clock tower now stands at library space below for ‘Lesser Half’ 25 metres (82 feet). Before the fire - original clock tower 1900 The Town Hall is lit by electricity. Before this gas lamps and open fires were used for light and warmth. Proposed suite of rooms (ex Police lodgings) Proposed new toilets Re-opened 1930s The fire station, which had been based in the Town Hall from the time it opened, corridor Proposed serving moves to Maclure Road, next to Rochdale railway station. kitchen Improved access to Council Chamber public balcony 1951 Rochdale Town Hall is recognised as being of national importance and is listed Second Floor Proposed After the fire - rebuilt clock tower Grade I, the highest designation. 2 bar Council Chamber (below) The planning department and police move from the Town Hall to other buildings. 1963 Proposed Proposed ‘Lesser Half Proposed suite ‘Lesser Half reception / cloaks of rooms reception / cloaks (ex Police lodgings) 1960s Beat nightclub ‘Lower Chambers’ opens in the Town Hall basement. Membership costs 1s 6d. Proposed replacement Registrar’s Offices Re-opened The Grand Staircase corridor Proposed new 1970s Former rates hall opens as the Town Hall café with a new kitchen. The old police toilets cells, which had been based in the Town Hall since it opened, close. First Floor 1981 Following the Magistrates’ Court’s move out of the building in the early 1970s the old 1 The Great Hall Organ Council Chamber Magna mural Carta court is redeveloped as the new council chamber. Zodiac Bar The Council Chamber Proposed storage Proposed extended bar Proposed function / Council Chamber & meeting room 2013 The majority of remaining council staff based in the Town Hall move out and conference space relocate to the new customer service centre, library and office building, Number Proposed new level access Fire Station garages opening doorway from new rear terrace onto new terrace at rear One Riverside. This gives the council and its partners a unique opportunity to (proposed bar / restaurant) The Grand Staircase consider the re-use of the rooms which were previously used as offices. Kitchen Proposed entrance Proposed Cafe / Tea Room to basement & new enclosed stairs Originally Rates internal foyer to basement 2013 A significance appraisal is carried out on the Town Hall by conservation specialists Collection Hall as required for a Grade I building. They conclude that Rochdale Town Hall is one Reception Room The Exchange (originally Registrar’s Ground Floor Meeting Council of the finest examples of Victorian architecture and design in the country. It is G Proposed room Chamber) level access described in the report as one of the best town halls in the UK. from outside Number One Riverside Mayoral Chamber Meeting room Proposed seperate Mayoral Suite Specialists carry out a feasibility study on the Town Hall and make enclosed entrances (civic events / weddings / 2013/14 for Lesser Hall and function / meeting rooms) Restored Police cells and parade ground Mayoral Suite (proposed bar / restaurant) recommendations on how to preserve and develop it for future generations. Proposed improved access Existing Basement toilet (access from The Exchange at Ground Floor level) 2015 A stage one bid will be submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund by the end of the year. Proposed new internal foyer Proposed enclosed stairs & lobby 2016 If the first stage bid is successful, the council and its partners will draw up a more detailed second stage bid and submit this to the Heritage Lottery Fund B Basement Mid 2017 The council will find out if it has been successful in its Heritage Lottery Fund bid. Space reserved for future public use WW2 Air Raid Shelter Late (Potential to be included as part of an extended tour only) The Grand Staircase 2017 If the bid is approved, work will begin. rochdale.gov.uk/townhall Uncovering lost spaces - The plans Creating a new Improved Town Hall ‘Lesser Hall’ tours In the 1950s, a mezzanine floor was We propose to extend the Town Hall tour to take in added above the former library the above ‘lost’ spaces and develop an interactive space on the second floor to create Previous office space phone or tablet app to give you a commentary as you much-needed offices. We would like to pass through certain areas. remove the mezzanine floor to create added height and turn this space into Improved tours of the Town Hall and its rooms a ‘Lesser Hall’ with its own access, bar and toilets. This hall could be used as a Restoration location for smaller functions. We would like to restore the important pieces of Proposed use - function room for smaller weddings, conferences, art and decorative features, including stained glass performances and events windows and the impressive Magna Carta mural in the Converting the old Great Hall and return them to their former glory. police cells Once restored to its former glory, this Improving accessibility Restoration of the Magna Carta in the Great Hall section of the building could be added We intend to provide three additional lifts and to the regular Town Hall tours, so people improve the access between different sections of the can see what conditions were like in ground floor, make changes to the handrail in order to the 1870s when the cells were first improve safety on the grand staircase and add a new opened. Alternatively, there is also an high quality front entrance to allow easier access. Old police cells opportunity to convert the cells into a bar/restaurant with the cells being used as booths for seating. Extension of the Zodiac bar Improving the Grand Staircase Former fire The Zodiac bar could be extended into the adjoining station area room, which is currently unused, to create more space. We propose to renovate this area, in keeping with its original style, to create a better space for weddings and a new Other essential works south-facing outdoor terrace area. Other essential works are proposed include a new heating system, repairs to the roof, walls, windows and a new Proposed use - better space for weddings and a new south-facing outdoor electrical system.